Thomas Menino, Boston's longest-serving and perhaps most beloved mayor, was remembered at his funeral Monday as "the doer of small things," a city leader less interested in the national political stage than the day-to-day minutiae of running the city, from making sure garbage was picked up to improving public schools.Watch the NewsCenter 5 reportMenino, 71, lost his battle with cancer last week.Video: Boston says goodbye to Tom MeninoA private Mass for family and friends was held Monday at Most Precious Blood Parish in Hyde Park, the church where Menino was baptized and served as an altar boy.Video: Governor remembers Menino"The mayor who never sought higher office has one now," Menino's former Chief of Staff Mitchell Weiss said."Today we come together to celebrate a great man, a history-making man and a life of accomplishment -- Thomas Michael Menino. The relentless, the big-hearted, the people-loving 'Urban Mechanic' has gone to fix potholes in heaven," Mayor Marty Walsh said of his predecessor.Menino funeral program | Photos: Tom Menino through the yearsIn addition to Walsh, many dignitaries and prominent Bostonians were in attendance, including Vice President Joseph Biden, Secretary of State and former U.S. Sen. from Massachusetts John Kerry, Cardinal Sean O'Malley, retired Celtics great Bill Russell, retired Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez and Red Sox slugger David Ortiz."From a mile away, he could spot someone who needed a boost. He sought them out with simple words of encouragement; he backed them. When Tom Menino had your back, that is all you need. The proof is all around us -- Tom Menino had Boston's back," Walsh said.In a lengthy eulogy Gov. Deval Patrick recounted how Menino did not throw his powerful political weight behind Patrick's first successful run for governor in 2006 but still spent the time to get to know the political neophyte when he sought the city leader's support."He seemed to make time for everyone, even a political nobody like me," Patrick said.The governor touched on many of the former mayor's endearing traits, including his famous tendency to mangle words and names in a thick Boston accent. He may have mumbled, Patrick said, but "you always knew what he meant, and that he meant what he said."Former President Bill Clinton was seen speaking with Menino's widow, Angela, and his children, Thomas Jr. and Susan, at Faneuil Hall Monday morning.Major events in Boston while Menino was MayorMenino's casket, which was draped in the flag of Boston, was carried out of historic Faneuil Hall Monday morning, where thousands had come out in the cold and rain to pay their respects as he lay in state on Sunday.A funeral procession took the city's longest serving mayor, who died Thursday at 71 after being diagnosed with advanced cancer in February, through a number of significant places in his life.Among them were city institutions and landmarks like City Hall, Boston University, Kenmore Square and Fenway Park, as well as neighborhood locations like Dudley Square, Grove Hall, Franklin Park, the Bowdoin-Geneva neighborhood, Mattapan Library and Roslindale Square.Hundreds of residents lined the route. Some cheered while others openly wept.Many held green signs reading "Thank You, Mayor Menino."On Sunday, Kerry said Menino's dedication to the people of Boston shows what a difference one individual can make in the lives of so many."Tommy would always make you focus on what's really important," Kerry said. "Don't make it personal. Make it about the people."Kerry said President Barack Obama had called Menino and had hoped to visit him."He had great respect and admiration for Tom, and of course Tom helped him, helped me, helped all of us. If he cranked his machine up, you had a pretty good upper leg," Kerry said, recalling Menino's legendary political sway in Boston. "I know the president was very sad to hear he had passed so quickly."Patrick also praised Menino for focusing on the needs of ordinary people, a commitment that had earned Menino the nickname of "Urban Mechanic.""This is a mayor who made his politics so personal, so understanding of, and so close to people," Patrick said.U.S. Sen. Edward Markey said a big part of Menino's legacy is leaving the city in better shape than he found it."Today in Boston it is a completely inclusive city and Tom Menino made that his goal," Markey said.Pierre Doriscat, one of the hundreds of thousands of Bostonians who came to know Menino, waited in the cold, wet weather before paying his respects. He recalled a time when his son -- then in the fifth grade -- won an award in mathematics. It was Menino who handed out the award."So I shook his hand," said Doriscat, who works as a bartender and lives in Menino's Hyde Park neighborhood. "He's a really nice guy. He did a great job for the city."John Wong, a 32-year-old who works at Logan International Airport, also knew Menino from his years working in City Hall during Menino's time in office."I'm just going to miss the guy," said Wong. "This is the only guy I knew as mayor."

BOSTON —

Thomas Menino, Boston's longest-serving and perhaps most beloved mayor, was remembered at his funeral Monday as "the doer of small things," a city leader less interested in the national political stage than the day-to-day minutiae of running the city, from making sure garbage was picked up to improving public schools.

"The mayor who never sought higher office has one now," Menino's former Chief of Staff Mitchell Weiss said.

"Today we come together to celebrate a great man, a history-making man and a life of accomplishment -- Thomas Michael Menino. The relentless, the big-hearted, the people-loving 'Urban Mechanic' has gone to fix potholes in heaven," Mayor Marty Walsh said of his predecessor.

In addition to Walsh, many dignitaries and prominent Bostonians were in attendance, including Vice President Joseph Biden, Secretary of State and former U.S. Sen. from Massachusetts John Kerry, Cardinal Sean O'Malley, retired Celtics great Bill Russell, retired Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez and Red Sox slugger David Ortiz.

"From a mile away, he could spot someone who needed a boost. He sought them out with simple words of encouragement; he backed them. When Tom Menino had your back, that is all you need. The proof is all around us -- Tom Menino had Boston's back," Walsh said.

In a lengthy eulogy Gov. Deval Patrick recounted how Menino did not throw his powerful political weight behind Patrick's first successful run for governor in 2006 but still spent the time to get to know the political neophyte when he sought the city leader's support.

"He seemed to make time for everyone, even a political nobody like me," Patrick said.

The governor touched on many of the former mayor's endearing traits, including his famous tendency to mangle words and names in a thick Boston accent. He may have mumbled, Patrick said, but "you always knew what he meant, and that he meant what he said."

Former President Bill Clinton was seen speaking with Menino's widow, Angela, and his children, Thomas Jr. and Susan, at Faneuil Hall Monday morning.

Menino's casket, which was draped in the flag of Boston, was carried out of historic Faneuil Hall Monday morning, where thousands had come out in the cold and rain to pay their respects as he lay in state on Sunday.

A funeral procession took the city's longest serving mayor, who died Thursday at 71 after being diagnosed with advanced cancer in February, through a number of significant places in his life.

Among them were city institutions and landmarks like City Hall, Boston University, Kenmore Square and Fenway Park, as well as neighborhood locations like Dudley Square, Grove Hall, Franklin Park, the Bowdoin-Geneva neighborhood, Mattapan Library and Roslindale Square.

Hundreds of residents lined the route. Some cheered while others openly wept.

Many held green signs reading "Thank You, Mayor Menino."

On Sunday, Kerry said Menino's dedication to the people of Boston shows what a difference one individual can make in the lives of so many.

"Tommy would always make you focus on what's really important," Kerry said. "Don't make it personal. Make it about the people."

Kerry said President Barack Obama had called Menino and had hoped to visit him.

"He had great respect and admiration for Tom, and of course Tom helped him, helped me, helped all of us. If he cranked his machine up, you had a pretty good upper leg," Kerry said, recalling Menino's legendary political sway in Boston. "I know the president was very sad to hear he had passed so quickly."

Patrick also praised Menino for focusing on the needs of ordinary people, a commitment that had earned Menino the nickname of "Urban Mechanic."

"This is a mayor who made his politics so personal, so understanding of, and so close to people," Patrick said.

U.S. Sen. Edward Markey said a big part of Menino's legacy is leaving the city in better shape than he found it.

"Today in Boston it is a completely inclusive city and Tom Menino made that his goal," Markey said.

Pierre Doriscat, one of the hundreds of thousands of Bostonians who came to know Menino, waited in the cold, wet weather before paying his respects. He recalled a time when his son -- then in the fifth grade -- won an award in mathematics. It was Menino who handed out the award.

"So I shook his hand," said Doriscat, who works as a bartender and lives in Menino's Hyde Park neighborhood. "He's a really nice guy. He did a great job for the city."

John Wong, a 32-year-old who works at Logan International Airport, also knew Menino from his years working in City Hall during Menino's time in office.

"I'm just going to miss the guy," said Wong. "This is the only guy I knew as mayor."